Top ranked Simona Halep officially withdrew from the WTA Finals in Singapore, which begins on October 22.

“The decision was tough for sure,” Halep told WTA Insider. “It’s always difficult to withdraw from a big tournament. Actually, I think it’s the first time in my life. So it was a tough decision but it’s better for my health.

“Darren was 100% to withdraw because he’s worried about the back and it’s better to put the health first, always. He always did that with me since we started. So he was more sure than me that we had to pull out. Then when I heard that he agreed with this it was easier for me to take the decision.”

“My back is not ok. I didn’t practice for the last four weeks. I’m not ready to compete at this level and I’m still sore. It’s not easy to go on court and compete at this moment.”

Halep ends her 2018 season on a four-match losing match streak. Her last match was at Beijing where she retired to Ons Jabeur.

Halep does finish No. 1 for a second straight year behind her first Grand Slam at the French and titles at Canada and Shenzhen.

Uncle Toni tells me that Etonia is not a real country. Is the bf real?

How many ever boyfriends Shriekapova has, it will always be the my country man, El Mosquito who got the first taste. His greatest accomplishment. He may have also done something else on clay but that’s irrelevant.

Hi Margot, I just felt that it overlooked the first 7 months of the year for Angie (through Wimbledon she was the only player to make the 2nd week of all 3 slams) and that at the end of the year she had a chance to be year-end #1. That takes a whole lot more than 2 weeks. I usually like Steve Tignor’s write ups but thought that piece was short sighted.